The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-17

hearted, impetuous boy, and he had forgot
ten all his own trouble in Seppi's.
The girl watched him. She wanted to ex-
plain matters to him. Pointing to the
money, she stammered, in English, Some
time-Carema Patience, patence!"
Eyes, it does need patience" said John,
excitedly, springing to his feet, "There are
not sixteen dollars, and they have cost two
years work Gentlemen"-he held out his
cap-"it will be so little to yOu-these
twenty-four dollars that are needed but it
means home and wife and mother to these
poor souls"
The cap passed from hand to hand. The
men laughed, some of the women cried, and
the crisp notes and coins dropped in fast.
When it came back to Seppi, it weighed
heavily in his hands.
The excitable Italian showed, by his sud-
den gravity, how deeply he was moved. He
glanced around the circle Of kind faces, and
bowed low.
st is much," he said at last. 'We win go
to New York to-day, and sail tomorrow.
There will be money left for Maria l thank
you"
Then he stood quiet, looking at the
ground, the tears making clean paths down
his cheeks. 1t did not need the ship or at
home.
Anita seemed to wake as from a stupor
She touched Johns elbow.
"Signor. we are going homel am going
to motherw she said timidly, and then, like
a true Piedmontese, began to dance She
was a homely child, but it was the happiness
in her that danced, and that was beautiful
to see Seppi, in sudden frenzy of joy,
ground the organ, beat the kettle, rang the
bells.
John stood laughing with the others, but
he was more touched than they. Poor and
and idle as he was, he had been able TO dc
something yet in life.
Some of the ladies had disappeared, and
| came back now with valise packed with
| pretty little gowns for Anita, bright colored
ribbon and toys. There was even present
| for Maria and the bambino at home. The
child, flushed and sparkling, bowed low tc
| them all, as she babe them farewell But she
ran up to John, and falling on one knee she
kissed his hand.
81 will pray for you, signor," she said.
AS Seppi and the child disappeared, the
boarders at Prout's sauntered up to the
| house to supper. Mr.. Mccain walked with
| Israel
"That is good fellow" he said. "Ant
speaks Italian we'll We-'McCann ant
Shippen'- have one of the largest houses il
New York. We want secretary who i;
master of French, Italian and German. II
write for this lads references, and if they
are satisfactory, he shall have the place a
| once"
They'll be all right" said Israel
But he was dismayed. The senior partner
in Mccain and Shippen And he had taker
him for mechanic out on his holidays
That pretty little artist. Bessie Henry
had watched the whole scene from her ham
mock, herself unseen. She, too, looked afte
John as he walked home across the marshes
'How good he isl" she thought, her eye
growing soft and tender. "Therc is nobod,
like himl But he has forgotten"
John, crossing the marshes, hummed &
tune to himself. How fine were those era!
tints in the sky, and the soft browns an(
crimsons in the swamps-could anything b,
more delicatel The minnows and crab
shaoting through the coffee-colored water o
the creeks. the blue dragon-fies how HAPPY
they all were! He wished he could hav,
shaken hands with every one of those mel
and women who had made Seppi and thu
child so glad for life! The world was 81
good and so full of generous and friendly
souls! 1t was enough to be alive!